---
title: payback — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «payback» in the school dictionary: Payback is revenge: doing something bad to someone because they did something bad to you. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# payback

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** they, Payback, it, you, villain, He · **What happens:** be, do, pay back, take, earn back, spend · **To what, where:** Payback revenge, something, money, payback time, shoes, payback · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«payback» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [payback in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/payback.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Payback is revenge: doing something bad to someone because they did something bad to you.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:payback:m1:1
# text = Payback is revenge: doing something bad to someone because they did something bad to you.
1	Payback	payback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	revenge	revenge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obl	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obj	_	_
14	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | Payback revenge |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **do** | past | they | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Payback is also money paid back, or the time it takes to earn back the money you spent on something.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:payback:m2:1
# text = Payback is also money paid back, or the time it takes to earn back the money you spent on something.
1	Payback	payback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	paid	pay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	back	back	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	earn	earn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
15	back	back	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	spent	spend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	acl:relcl	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Payback | money |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pay back** | participle |  | money *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **take** | present | it |  |  |  | time |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **earn back** | to-infinitive |  | the money |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |
| 5 | **spend** | past | you | the money *not said here* |  |  |  | on something *goal* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent money=Asset on something=Goal |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The villain said, «It's payback time!»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:payback:x1:1
# text = The villain said, «It's payback time!»
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	payback	payback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: express* | past | the villain |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | villain | payback time |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He hid her shoes as payback for the prank.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:payback:x2:1
# text = He hid her shoes as payback for the prank.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	payback	payback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	prank	prank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | past | He | her shoes |  |  |  | as payback; for the prank | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoe=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Getting payback usually makes a fight worse, not better.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:payback:x3:1
# text = Getting payback usually makes a fight worse, not better.
1	Getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	payback	payback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | gerund |  | payback |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer payback=Stimulus |
| 2 | **make** | present | Getting | a fight |  |  |  | bad, usually *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset fight=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The solar panels have a payback time of eight years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:payback:x4:1
# text = The solar panels have a payback time of eight years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	solar	solar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	panels	panel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	payback	payback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the solar panels |  |  |  | time |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher said kindness is better than payback.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:payback:x5:1
# text = Our teacher said kindness is better than payback.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	ccomp	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	payback	payback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Our teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | kindness |  |  |  |  | than payback; good *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The payback on the lemonade stand came after we sold twenty cups.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:payback:x6:1
# text = The payback on the lemonade stand came after we sold twenty cups.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	payback	payback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	lemonade	lemonade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	stand	stand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	sold	sell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
11	twenty	twenty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	cups	cup	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the payback on the lemonade stand |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **sell** | past | we | twenty cups |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cup=Theme |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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